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County executive for education Christopher Khaemba
Nairobi parents and teachers are furious that the national teachers’ union is shielding a “rogue” city headmaster.
Kenya National Union of Teachers came under fire following claims they are trying to cover up accusations of harassment against the headmaster of Imara Primary School.
Teachers and parents of the schools claim that Robert Karume harasses his juniors, and has in the past charged students “illegal” fee.
But when contacted, Karume denied the claims. He said: “I think somebody is trying to tarnish my name.”
The parents had further claimed that Nairobi Knut executive secretary Macharia Mugwe and a Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) official, Ann Kihara, used insults to “intimidate teachers” at a meeting to address the complaints against Karume.
They claim the two representatives from Knut and TSC failed to settle the dispute.
Mugwe however told The Nairobian that he went to the school with Kihara following the teachers’ complaints. “It has been a matter of misunderstanding, with teachers not understanding TSC’s laws. There was a demonstration planned early last week (September 24), but we went to the school, talked to the headteacher and his teachers and resolved the differences,” Mugwe said. Teachers claim that Karume has been insulting them, and at times forces them to collect “illegal levies” from parents.
Parents told The Nairobian that they have complained several times about the headteacher demanding illegal fees.
A child seeking admission in standard seven or eight is reportedly required to pay a fee of up to Sh10,000.
When the Kenya National Examination Council was charging Sh800 as registration fee for KCPE exams, the headteacher was allegedly charging Sh1,700. Parents claim the headteacher is now asking for Sh2,000 for any standard seven pupil wishing to register for KCPE exams next year.
Imara is a public school owned by the county government.
County education minister Christopher Khaemba told The Nairobian: “My office is always open for teachers and parents to report such issues especially if they can table documented evidence. Sometimes when we visit schools with such problems the headteachers hide documents thus presenting a different picture. Charging unrecognised levies is illegal”.
